5 on Friday

1.  Fall Temps

The weather here in Iowa has been ah-mazing this week!  I spent every minute I could outside with the kiddos, soaking up these Fall-like temperatures.  Rumor has it the warm summer days are coming back next week but I sure appreciated these cooler nights. 

It is so nice to be able to have the windows open and let the fresh air blow through.  (In my mind it takes all the yucky germs and dust with it too).   I even took time to sit outside with Mr. Brady early one morning.  He enjoyed his “coffee” and I enjoyed mine with the Pumpkin Spice creamer. 

Here’s to a couple more weeks of wonderful warm temps to enjoy some last minute pool time and boat time.  But come September 8^th I am ready for fall!

2.  Football

Fantasy football drafts have begun (not that I participate), preseason games are on TV, so it’s only a matter of time before football season starts.  I may not understand 100% of the game, I may not know many (ok, probably only 5) players, but I absolutely love the excitement everyone has about the beginning of the football season.  I love to host parties, I love making treats, I love dressing up to support your team; you know, all the girlie stuff about the game. ;)  I am on the hunt for some new college football gear for the kids since they’ve both outgrown their clothes from last year and a new Cowboys shirt for me.  Here’s to a good season so that I don’t have a grouchy husband. ;)

 

3.  Low Grade Fevers

I Think He's Doing Better Since He Kept Racing To Mow The Neighbor's Yard - And I Promise I Do Brush My Children's Hair ;)

Twice over the last week and a half, I have had to leave work early to pick up little man from daycare.  Both times he was running a low grade fever.  Because of Brady’s kidney issues, we have to take these fevers a bit more serious.  Per his specialists, any low grade fever requires us to bring him in for a urine sample.  We have become a bit more conservative so if there is a visible running nose or other symptom accompanying the fever, then we tend to hold off on putting him through a doctor’s visit.  This time around Brady didn’t have any symptoms and thus we spent Tuesday morning at the clinic.  Brady was tested for strep throat, a UTI/kidney infection, and they took blood work.  Luckily the strep test came back negative as well as the urine.  B’s blood work masked that of a viral infection, which he lovingly passed on to mommy…stinker!

 

4.  Vegetable Tool

One item I would like to tackle on my list this weekend, is to purchase a veggie spiralizer/cutter.  We substitute zucchini and spaghetti squash so much in our house that I think it’s time to invest in one.  Does anyone out there have a gadget they recommend?  I have heard great this about the one I featured above.  I can’t wait to try out some new recipes I’ve been hoarding on my Pinterest once I have one.

 5.  I Can’t Play Adult Today

Mr. Burns will be working five out of the seven days this week, ending on Sunday.  It always seems like this happens on the most inconvenient of times.  As I mentioned above, little man was sick which required me to leave work early.  I spent my fair share of nights up with him which is always draining.  To top it off, I have the darn virus myself.  I was up at 3am with B last night, only to find my alarm going off right when I fell back asleep.  I got up, and with my eyes still almost shut, I found my way downstairs to make some coffee and pack my lunch.  I stumbled back upstairs and crawled under my blankets in bed with my warm cup of joe.  As I sat there, all I could think was how in the hell am I going to make today happen.  I hadn’t slept through the night yet this week, I feel like crap, I look like crap, but in a matter of minutes I need to make myself look presentable, make my commute to downtown, and have the right frame of mind to have my A-game on for four procedures today.  Shit.  Literally, that was all I could say.  Now, I am being blatantly honest; I wanted to throw in the towel.  I wanted more than anything to call in sick to work.  The fact of the matter is, I’m an adult and sometimes you have to suck it up and make it happen, but I’m one tired and feisty momma.  I typically never wish time away, but come on Monday where our schedule can be more normal.  So, as you can imagine we have no plans this weekend but to purchase #4.  I feel like some good relax time is in order for us all!  Now let’s get through this day!

Birthday Celebration: Great Wolf Lodge

Instead of gifting toys for the kids’ birthdays this summer, David and I decided that we wanted to treat them to some type of family getaway where we could spend some quality time together.  Since both children love the water, we decided on a mini vacation to Great Wolf Lodge.  This hotel chain has a few locations across the country.  They all have a wonderful lodge décor with many different room options.  They have restaurants on site, sweet shops for ice cream-candy-and more, little stores to shop, an arcade, a salon for facials-manicures-and pedicures which was decorated so cute, and are well-known for their large indoor/outdoor waterparks. 

Neither of us had ever been to one of these hotels prior to this, so we did our research, and hoped for the best.  Here’s a little of what we did and what we learned.

1.  We booked our stay for Sunday night.  The rates are MUCH cheaper for a weekday and Sundays as they aren’t in as high of demand.  You are able to check-in to use the pool at 1pm the day of arrival, even though you may not get into your room until 4pm.  We arrived in Kansas City around noon, grabbed lunch, and then checked in.  

Our room wasn’t ready but we still changed the kids into their suits and ventured in to see what the waterpark was all about.

2.  The kids LOVED everything about the waterpark-the pools and the waterslides-and so did we.  I was overly impressed by all the options.  There were multiple swimming areas for infants and young kids, some pools for larger kids and adults, and some areas for everyone.  I was shocked that they had slides that even Brady could ride!  The beauty of it all is that there were options.  To top it off, there was an outside pool as well.  There weren’t any waterslides in the outside area, but the pool and toys out there were perfect for Brady and Tessa’s age.  They even had a bar so we adults could enjoy a few cocktails in the water as well.  We took full advantage of the outside pool area and toys on Sunday afternoon.  I’m so glad we did as it was closed on Monday.  At the end of summer they don’t supply lifeguards and other staffing during the week for the outdoor area.

3.  After we swam and slid our little hearts out, we went to dinner at the restaurant.  I don’t know if we were all really hungry from the day’s activities or what, but the food was awesome.  I’m not sure little man was able to cast his vote though?

4.  We enjoyed some free ice cream in the sweet shop since it was the kids’ birthday celebration and then enjoyed story time in the lobby.  

The Lodge characters come out to visit periodically and one is always at story time.  They offer this in the afternoon and the evening.  Brady loved the characters but the feeling wasn’t mutual with Miss Tess.  She has some hesitancy with life-sized creatures and well, I don’t really blame her.  They can be a little intimidating.

5.  The next morning we went down to the sweet shop to get our Starbucks coffee.  We sat out on the balcony and enjoyed ourselves before the pool opened.  We even made a quick stop at the arcade for a few games and a visit to the salon.  (I still regret not purchasing these amazing slippers I saw).  We needed to be checked out of our room by 11am.  

They have lockers and showers down in the waterpark and your pass is good until 9pm that night.  Needless to say we took what we needed for the ride home down to the pool, packed the rest in the car, and spent the morning and early afternoon soaking up some fun at the pool.

6.  We left the lodge around 2pm and made our trek back to Iowa.  Initially I thought maybe we lost out on some good water time, but in the end that was about as much excitement as the kids could handle.

  They rode the waterslides CONSTANTLY that morning, seriously enough to make me dizzy trying to see which one was on the slide and where.

7.  To sum it up, I was really impressed with the Great Wolf Lodge.  I think the hubs and I did a good job with planning and communicating with the staff so we knew what they had and what we needed to bring.  Because the hotel is based around children, everything was tailored to our needs.  All I had to pack were our clothes and some snacks to keep in the room.  We would make this trip again in a heartbeat…and maybe again for only 1 night…well, maybe 2. ;)

5 on Friday: Go Fund Me

Our background:

I met Holli in 1993.  I was the new girl in school at Brandon Valley.  She befriended me without question, and we have had many great years of friendship together.  I’ll never forget when she met “the new boy.”  Little did I, or our other friends, know that this man would be her soul mate, the love of her life, and the father to her precious children.

Now, more than ever, Holli and her husband Cody need our help.  So many friends and family have been there to support them in the past and are banning together to support them as they face another challenge in life. 

Here is their story:

Cody was diagnosed with Grade 3 brain cancer in 2005.  After being in remission for 9 years, Cody’s cancer has returned.  He is now fighting a grade 4 Glioblastoma, the most aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer.  Cody works for the City of Brewster, MN and is married to Holli, who works as a Speech-Language Pathologist at Prairie Elementary in the Worthington, MN school District.  Together they have 3 children; Kaden and Kenley, age 5 and Paxton, age 3.

About a month ago you may remember that I did a blog post asking for prayers for a dear friend of mind and her family.  You can see the original post here.  In addition for asking for prayers, I have set up a GoFundMe page titled “The Finke Family” to help with the expenses of traveling across the country seeking professional medical opinions, medical expenses for treatment, etc.  If you have the ability to donate, I know it would make the world of difference to these parents and their three small babies.  You can access the link here.

Also, there is a local benefit that is scheduled for September 13^th for the Finke family in their hometown of Brewster, Minnesota.  One of the fundraisers at this event includes selling t-shirts that say “I wear Grey for Cody.”  If you are interested in purchasing a t-shirt, with all proceeds going to the Finke family, you can access the link below.

https://weargreyforcody.squarespace.com

Thank you in advance to everyone who takes a minute to donate and/or pray for this family.  If you would like to follow their journey more closely, Holli makes frequent updates on her personal blog called Simply Love.

 

DIY Ribbon Bows

Tess loves wearing hair bows.  Nearly every day she has an opinion on which one she is going to wear; making sure they match her outfit just so.  The problem with wearing a bow each day as a youngster is that they often get misplaced if they're removed during our daily activities.  I can usually keep pretty darn good tabs on them, but I can't say the same for the hubby.  Ahem...

 

Bows aren't cheap so I decided to give making them on my own a whirl (with the assistance of Miss Tess and my mother, of course).  We learned A LOT during this process and I can't wait to take what I know now and try making some other fabric bows for the upcoming fall season.  Stay tuned!

A 3-Tier Bow - All Individual Fabrics Shown Here

The 3 Bows Above Piled Together

Securing Them Together

Utilizing Wax Paper To Secure The Bow To The Hairclip

I Attempted A Simple Bow As Well - Just Need To Finish Up The Ends

 

Brady's 2 Year Stats

Our sweet baby boy turned two this past Sunday.  I love watching him grow, learn new things, change in looks, and witness him develop into the most precious little man.  At the same time, since he is our last baby, I definitely have emotional moments as I watch him reach new milestones.  Growing older is a part of life but it doesn’t mean it’s easy.

I’ve seen other mommy’s out there do monthly or yearly updates on their littles and I thought it would be fun to do for Brady.  Here are a few statistics on our little man.

Height: 31 inches

Weight: 22 lbs

Clothing Size: 12-18 month tops, 12M bottoms

Nicknames: Brado…Brady-boy…Mr. Brady…Brado-Potato…Bud…Brother…Toto (this is from big sis and we have no idea where she got it)

Health: You pick up viruses easier than most kids, but fight them pretty well.  We had tubes placed this year and that has really been a game-changer for you/us.  You have atopic dermatitis (really sensitive skin) and also molluscum contagiosum, as of late, so we use special creams and wear really soft material clothing.  This fall we will have more information regarding your kidneys and where we stand on further treatment.

Sleep:  You’ve been sleeping through the night since you were about seven months old – no change there…thankfully!  You are in your crib and have yet to realize that you could probably get out on your own.  You sit up in the morning and just yell “daddy, daddy, dad, Dad, Dad-dy, DADDY” or replace that same calm sound to a gradual yell with someone else’s name.  It’s quite entertaining to listen to and sometimes we just wait until you reach the yelling phase…just for fun. ;)

Diet:  With all your allergies (Whey-Dairy-Peanuts-Pistachios-Oats-Pumpkin) you have to eat fairly healthy.  You eat a lot of meat, fruit, and vegetables.  You struggled for a little while with tomatoes too but since I’ve started rinsing them with thieves you’ve shown little to no allergic response and will eat an entire tomato (or two) in a sitting! For snacks you enjoy veggie straws, raisins, applesauce, certain crackers, and you love popcorn.  You go back and forth on wanting your almond milk but love water and the occasional “juicy” (diluted all natural apple juice).

Loves:  You enjoy so many things including; big sister Tessa, Mickey Mouse, cooking in your kitchen, mowing the yard, singing & dancing, running fast, and fishing.  You love our nighttime routine which consists of your tubbie, lotion, warm jammies, your “ducky” (blanket) and most recent addition of a tiny pillow that was a decorative one from our bed.

Dislikes:  You detest facial or body hair and it is the funniest thing to witness.  You have no problem telling daddy, grandpa, or other men that they are “yucky.”  You also aren’t fond of socks, hair products, and the feel of grass on your toes.

Milestones:  You know the words to “Twinkle-Twinkle,” “Baby Bumble Bee,” “Rain, Rain, Go Away,” can say our dinner prayer, and can count to 10-sometimes 14.  You can go up and down stairs but still prefer to go down on your tummy (and so does mommy).  You are becoming very independent and are at the point of refusing any help with buckling your car seat.

Speech:  Your vocabulary has really taken off these last few months.  You can keep a conversation with us and tell us what you need.  Some days I am literally blown away at the sentences you put together and the words you’ve picked up from us.  Your sis likes to teach you fun phrases.  Your most recent word to randomly yell is “champagne.”  That one really made me look like an awesome mom when you decided to scream it while we walked through Williams Sonoma a few weeks ago. ;)

Other Things to Note:  You have shown an interest in using the potty over the last two months.  We haven’t official began potty training but when you tell us you need to go, we put you on the potty and you do.

My sweet Brady boy, you bring us more joy than we could have ever imagined!  We are so happy that you blessed our family and made us complete.

5 on Friday

1.Thelma & Louise

So, the blogs about to get real right now as I explain two different events that happened to me this week. And for all you other moms out there; I'm certain you can relate to both. :)

Louise

I decided to take the kids to the mall last Sunday (tax free weekend) so we could stop in Baby Gap. The whole store was 40% off and there was an additional percentage off all clearance items. (If you know me well, you know I don't pay full price for ANYTHING).

The kids were being decent, okay a bit crazy actually, and all I could look at to gain their attention were the socks. They both need some for Fall/Winter and with 40% off of the already 5 for $10 deal, it was a great price. (btw, Gap socks really are the best for kids after trying so many)!

So, I grab a few pairs for Brady and help Tess pick out a couple for herself. Everyone was happy and we started toward the check out. As I put Brady down to reach into my purse, he takes off like a wild man. This boy has no legs to speak of, but in that moment he was as fast as a steam engine. I yelled his name as I fumbled with all that was in my hands. In the meantime, Tess was just as concerned and took off out of the store with her adorable socks in hand.

I started apologizing to the workers as I too threw the socks down on a random table and chased my kids down the hallway of the mall.

Agh, it was a site for sure. But in the end we purchased our socks and said a few "I'm really sorry" and then I took the kids across the way for gelato! Because let's be honest, mommy needed it. ;)

 

Thelma

On Wednesday I had received a few different phone calls from daycare regarding Brady.  He wasn't himself that day, had a few shaking episodes, and was running a low grade fever.  By 3:00, I left work to go pick up the kids.  I decided to make a stop at Target on the way home to pick up some medicine (just in case we didn't have any at home) and a few food items to get us through the weekend.  Big mistake...huge!

Brady wasn't feeling well and was whiny and clingy.  Tess fed off of his behavior and was striving for my attention.  So I did what any mom would do and took us all to the bakery to get the free kid cookies they give out.  Luckily that did the trick for about 10 minutes.  Then all heck broke loose again because I refused to let Brady have any Scooby Doo Bones (graham crackers).  I ended up putting them on the bottom of the cart so they would be out of sight, finished up the last bit of shopping I needed, and headed to the register.  The kids were loud and obnoxious and I was rustling to get us through the line as quickly as possible.  Finally we were outside and as I was packing up the car with the kids and groceries, there I see the darn box of Scooby Doo Bones still on the bottom of the cart.

So what did I do?  I stood there for 30 seconds as I contemplated my new move.  Do I really unbuckle the crazy children and drag them back into the store, do I come back another day and tell my tell, or do I drive off and forget it even happened?  Well folks, it's definitely going to be one of the last two! 

I'm hoping God understands.

2. Old Navy

I feel like the clothes at Old Navy can be a little touch and go. Last night I ventured in to look for a cheap swimsuit since I knew they'd be on sale (I didn't find one) and I couldn't believe how many tops I wanted to buy! I took at least 12 articles of clothing into the dressing room to try on since I was sans kids.  I'm not joking when I say that I could have easily purchased eight of those. Since I really don't need much, I settled on one new shirt.

I had been looking for a great chambray to transition from summer-fall-winter and this one is super soft and not too short. I have one from J Crew that I paid way too much for that sits in my closet because it's such a rough material. I need my clothes to be cosy and my children are just as fussy.

 

3. Garage Sale

This past weekend was the garage sale at our place.  We took part in a multi-town garage sale with multiple families at our sale alone.  My cousin and her husband came to help the hubs and I.  

 

We Paid Him In Cocktails - Happy Worker!

A Bittersweet Transaction

We had great weather, great company, and a great sale.  This may become a yearly tradition for us, who knew?

 

4. Morning Light

This morning I woke up extra early for some time to myself.  I try to do this every once in a while, even on days I'm tired, because it really does make a difference in my day when  I can get some quiet time to think or just simply be.  The sky was beautiful right before 6am and my pumpkin spice coffee was the icing on the cake.

 

5. Baby to Toddler

This Sunday Brady will turn two.  I am in complete denial that I will officially have a toddler.  I have been soaking up these last few days with my baby before the inevitable happens.  He is such a little guy that sometimes it is hard for me to realize that he is growing up.  

We had to purchase some new shoes for him this week because his baby size ones are starting to get snug.  Even though his new kicks look so precious and make him "run fast," it was a hard purchase for mommy. ;(

 

We are heading to a waterpark in Kansas City on Sunday as our gift to our two summer birthday babies.  Let's hope they have as much fun as we anticipate.  I know mommy's excited!  Have a great weekend everyone!

Moments

I’m a sentimental momma…there, I said it.  I have moments throughout the week where I see my kiddos doing something and it makes me pause and really cherish the moment.  A couple of nights ago I was doing my typically nightly routine with the kids.  We did dinner, baths, and were getting settled in jammies.  Miss Tess has to brush her own hair and so like any other night; she climbed up on my bathroom counter, used her favorite brush, and made sure each piece of curly hair was where she wanted it.  Most evenings, it’s just something we do; just part of our routine.  This night, it was a moment for me.  I stood back and watched my big girl.  I realized my days of brushing her hair are fewer now than what they once were.  Even though it does make me sad, I love watching my babies grow.

 

5 on Friday: Anniversary Weekend

This week I am sharing my top 5 moments from our recent anniversary weekend!

 

1. Hubby Time

On Friday night, the hubs and I took advantage of an opportunity to spend some one on one time together.  We left the kids with my folks and took a boat ride around Okoboji early in the evening.  

The weather was perfect, the water was clear, the music was playing, and the cocktails were cold.  Honestly, it was the most amazing night to be on the water.  

We cruised over to the site where we had our wedding reception and spent some time reminiscing with each other about our special day five years before that.  Finally, we drove over to a restaurant and enjoyed a dinner just the two of us.  It is funny how much you can learn about one another and what’s going on in their lives over the course of a meal!  I know that seems awful to say but our daily schedules can be trying so finding time to really converse can be a challenge.  All in all, it was the most amazing night in a very long time.

 

2. Coffee Talk

You may have read in an earlier post that one of my favorite things to do is go for coffee.  I am a morning person, I love coffee, and I love conversation.  My folks are good friends with some wonderful women who own a coffee and bake shop in the area.  We all ventured there on Saturday morning for some great coffee and the best caramel pecan rolls you will ever have.  I’m dreaming of one right now, actually.

 

3.  Arnold’s Park

After coffee we drove over to Arnold’s Park.  They were hosting an art festival so we walked around the displays for a while and then went into the amusement park.  This was the first time we had taken Tess there this summer, and the first time for Brady riding on the rides.  

I may have taken one too many photos, but there is something magical about seeing my kids on the same rides I rode when I was their age.  I can’t wait to compare some old photos of me with my siblings to those I took this past weekend.
 

 4.  Poker Run

One of the local marinas hosts a poker run every summer.  You drive your boat to five different locations around the lake and pick up your “card.”  When you are finished, they have a tent set up where you get to play your hand.  Three years ago, our first time participating, David won first price of $1000.  We were convinced it was our lucky year again.  David, my dad, and I all played but unfortunately my hand was the best with a pair.  On the bright side, we got ourselves some lunch, some drinks, and a fun afternoon on the lake.

 

5.  Lakeshore Drive - The Inn

My mom and I love to walk around the lake.  There is a road that follows the perimeter of the lake appropriately called lakeshore drive.  We often would walk this road and end at a local hotel/restaurant for breakfast.  We hadn’t been able to do this all summer so I told mom that if she felt up to it, I would love to do our walk.  Sunday morning was lovely.  The temperature was cool and there wasn’t any humidity…yet.  We laced up our shoes and did our walk through the beautiful trees overlooking the water.  We arrived at The Inn and the men met us there with the kids via boat.  We all enjoyed a light breakfast and spent the rest of our morning and afternoon on the water.  The kids loved swimming (Tess is getting too brave it gives me anxiety) and it was a perfect way to tire them out for our drive back home. 

About 10 minutes after I took this photo, both kids were asleep. The hubs and I were sneaky and stopped for ice cream at a mom & pop shop we'd been wanting to try all summer. It was a perfect treat and We didn't have to feel guilty enjoying it since little man was fast asleep.

To sum up those 2.5 days, it was one of life’s weekends you want to relive over again and hope and pray that you never forget a moment of it.  Cheers to Friday and a blessed weekend to you all!

Basil Pesto Chicken

Let me start by saying that this isn’t turning into a cooking blog.  However, with the recent madness of recipe experimenting that is taking place in our home, I feel obligated to share when we stumble across one that is not only healthy but easy to make too.  This brings me to our newest dish that I made mention of last week on my blog post.  The  recipe below is derived from an original one listed on the South Beach Diet website.  And no, I am not participating in this diet.  During my search for recipes that exclude whey and dairy, high protein recipes are what you get.  Anyway, David gave this meal an A and I think the kids and I would have to agree.

 

Listed below are the ingredients you need:

4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast

Salt & Pepper to Taste

½ Cup Basil Pesto Sauce  

½ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375F.  Trim all visible fat from the chicken and cut each chicken breast lengthwise into 3 or 4 pieces.

 

Spray a 9" x 12" baking dish with non-stick spray and spread 1/4 cup basil pesto over the bottom of the dish.  (I used a 9" x 9" dish because I only made 3 chicken breasts).  

Lay chicken strip over the pesto and spread the remaining 1/4 cup of basil pesto over the chicken.  (I used Classico brand basil pesto sauce.  You could be adventurous and make your own with all the recipes out there but I wanted to save on time)

 Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil or use a baking dish with a tight-fitting lid.  Bake the chicken for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is nearly cooked through.

 

Remove the casserole dish from the oven, uncover, and sprinkle the chicken with 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese.  Put the dish back into the oven without foil and cook until the cheese is melted, approximately 5 minutes more.  (I did not do this step.  Instead, I cooked the chicken entirely, served it, and we added cheese ourselves to make it "Brady-friendly."

 

Serve hot.  There will be some flavorful juice in the bottom of the dish when it is done.  I poured some of the sauce over the chicken once I dished it up.  It was also a great dipping sauce for the French bread I made as well.  Enjoy!

(I apologize for not snapping a photo of the final product.  I was hungry!)